Statement by Brett VandenHeuvel, Riverkeeper's Executive Director—
April 30, 2014. Another oil train exploded today, this time in Lynchburg, Virginia. How many times does this need to happen before we stand up for public safety and our environment? How many lives need to be threatened and how many rivers polluted with oil? Recently, oil companies began an unprecedented experiment of shipping huge volumes of oil by trains. The experiment has failed, as shown dramatically by yet another exploding train. We need to move beyond being shocked and calling for another investigation. There is no doubt that crude oil trains explode and pose an unjustified risk to our communities and our waterways. We need our elected leaders to halt oil train traffic today, and obviously not permit large crude-by-rail terminals proposed in the Pacific Northwest, including a huge Tesoro terminal in Vancouver, Washington, and expansion at Port Westward, Oregon. Crude oil trains are not safe. Sign our petition today asking our elected leaders to oppose dangerous oil trains!
Yesterday, Riverkeeper was invited to an oil train briefing for agencies and elected leaders. We also held a public rally outside the briefing where 60 people rallied to raise concerns about oil trains traveling through Portland, Oregon. Today, ironically, an oil train exploded. We are relieved that no injuries are reported in Lynchburg. Let’s stand up to dirty oil before the next explosion.
Follow the news from the Lynchburg oil train explosion:
Videos taken from the crash site:
WSET-TV: http://www.wset.com/story/25395596/must-watch-train-derailment-drone-video
